“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.”
Haile Selassie

Friday, January 24, 2014

The Wendy Davis for Texas Governor campaign has made yet another misstep. Earlier this week the left leaning Dallas Morning News published a story in which it was revealed that Davis had embellished her life story. While claiming to have been a young, single mother who worked hard to put herself through college and Harvard Law School, it turns out that it was her ex-husband who paid for her to finish college and go to law school by taking out by cashing in his 401-K and taking out a loan.. Reportedly the day the last payment on the law school loan was made, Davis left her husband.

When confronted with the discrepancy in her life story, Davis let a few days pass then issued a statement that included criticism of her opponent Texas Governor Greg Abbott which ended with the suggestion that he shouldn't criticized her because he "hasn't walked a day in [her] shoes." On Twitter, she lambasted Abbott for not understanding struggles Texans face.

The problem for Davis, is that Abbott has been in a wheel chair since becoming paralyzed in an accident at 26 years old.

I am willing to overlook the Twitter comment given its general nature and the Twitter often captures comments made with little reflection. But drafting a statement that takes a shot at her wheel bound opponent for not having "walked a day in my shoes," well that's plain stupid. Any halfway intelligent politico would know that's a bad idea. You have to wonder who is handing out poor advice to Davis or whether Davis is ignoring good advice.

Same to with the slogan of the campaign, "Stand With Wendy." I know the slogan predated the campaign and arose out of her filibustering for the "right" to middle and late term abortions. But when she found out her opponent would be the Abbott, one would have thought Davis and her campaign stafff would understand the need to transition to a slogan that didn't focus on "standing."

If the week wasn't bad enough for the Davis campaign, within the last 24 hours hidden video has been released showing Davis' volunteers mocking Abbott, including his disability.

The
new video shows a volunteer for Davis... criticizing her opponent, Attorney General Greg
Abbott.

“First of all, he’s not good looking,” said one volunteer. “He
doesn’t speak very well. He doesn’t have a good personality. And he’s in
a wheelchair.”
Another volunteer immediately started laughing.
The video also shows Lisa Wortham, a deputy voter registrar, saying:
“I’m really wondering how this is going to work out, since he’s in a
wheelchair, and the slogans are ‘stand with Wendy.’”
Wortham is shown being asked about forging signatures on absentee
ballots. She covered her ears and then went on to admit, “People do that
all the time.”
Battleground Texas volunteer Celeste Grahm then added, “I don’t think it’s legal, but I didn’t hear you say that.”
Thursday afternoon, O’Keefe tweeted, “Breaking: Wendy Davis responds
to video: ‘The language used in this video about Greg Abbott is
abhorrent.”

The
new video shows a volunteer for Davis, whose claim to fame is a
filibuster in the state legislature against abortion limits that later
were passed anyway, criticizing her opponent, Attorney General Greg
Abbott.
“First of all, he’s not good looking,” said one volunteer. “He
doesn’t speak very well. He doesn’t have a good personality. And he’s in
a wheelchair.”
Another volunteer immediately started laughing.
The video also shows Lisa Wortham, a deputy voter registrar, saying:
“I’m really wondering how this is going to work out, since he’s in a
wheelchair, and the slogans are ‘stand with Wendy.’”
Wortham is shown being asked about forging signatures on absentee
ballots. She covered her ears and then went on to admit, “People do that
all the time.”
Battleground Texas volunteer Celeste Grahm then added, “I don’t think it’s legal, but I didn’t hear you say that.”
Thursday afternoon, O’Keefe tweeted, “Breaking: Wendy Davis responds
to video: ‘The language used in this video about Greg Abbott is
abhorrent.”

her volunteer immediately started laughing.The video also shows Lisa Wortham, a deputy voter registrar, saying:
“I’m really wondering how this is going to work out, since he’s in a
wheelchair, and the slogans are ‘stand with Wendy.’”Wortham is shown being asked about forging signatures on absentee
ballots. She covered her ears and then went on to admit, “People do that
all the time.”Battleground Texas volunteer Celeste Grahm then added, “I don’t think it’s legal, but I didn’t hear you say that.”Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2014/01/video-wendy-davis-supporters-laugh-at-disability/#18l5Xw7IMVDLoOO5.99

This time instead of attacking the perceived messenger, Davis criticized the conduct of her volunteers: "The language used in this video about Greg Abbott is abhorrent.”

This is Texas where the people elected GWB. I did not think they could find a dimmer bulb than GWB, but Rick Perry is certainly low wattage replacement for GWB.

The we have this case from Texas: "A judge has ordered a Texas hospital to remove life support for a pregnant, brain-dead woman who was being kept on a respirator against her family's wishes." http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/24/texas-judge-hospital-life-support-brain-dead-pregnant-woman

While a candidate cannot control what his/her volunteers say or do, exposés like this distract a campaign & knocks it off stride. Instead of raising money or communicating a vision, the candidate has to explain, deflect, or blame. At some point, if enough of these instances occur, the big money stops rolling into the campaign, as donors become convinced that the candidate simply is the wrong person for the job. It's an inauspicious beginning to 2014 for Wendy Davis.

About Me

I have been an attorney since the Fall of 1987. I have worked in every branch of government, including a stint as a Deputy Attorney General, a clerk for a judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals, and I have worked three sessions at the Indiana State Senate.
During my time as a lawyer, I have worked not only in various government positions, but also in private practice as a trial attorney handing an assortment of mostly civil cases.
I have also been politically active and run this blog in an effort to add my voice to those calling for reform.